Display rack



Aug. 2l, 1956 G. B. KURTzoN DISPLAY RACK ."5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug.25, 1949 LLL 5l 50 Aug. 21, 1956 G. B. KURTzoN DISPLAY RACK Filed Aug.25, 1949 l 2/ waa/"mrz" Aug. 21, 1956 G. B. KURTzoN 2,759,613

DISPLAY RACK Filed Aug. 25,- 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet -5 U/aufm nited StatesPatent DISPLAY RACK George B. Kurtzon, Chicago, Ill., assignor to GardenCity Plating & Manufacturing Co., a corporation of Illinois ApplicationAugust 25, 1949, Serial No. 112,279

4 Claims. (Cl. 211-94) This invention relates to a clothing displayrack. In particular it relates to a parallel bar rack having means tocontrol the rotation of the rack so that clothing supported by the rackmay be selectively displayed.

Racks of this general type have been used for many years in displayingclothing, such as suits, overcoats and dresses, and ordinarily comprisea centrally disposed standard mounted on a door-supported platform insuch a manner that it may be moved relative to the platform to move theparallel bars closer to the customer. The rack may then be rotated sothat the clothes supported on either bar may be closely inspected by thecustomer. These racks may be contained in a glass walled show case, orthey may be installed in any other desired place in a store or showroom.

Some of the principal objections to the prior art clothing racks or" thetype referred to, which the present invention is designed to overcome,are the heavy, eX- pensive structure of the centrally disposed standardand the slow and cumbersome manipulation of the rack necessary in orderto display the merchandise supported thereon.

In a display rack constructed in accordance with the present inventionthe centrally disposed standard and the Hoor-supported platform areeliminated, and the rack is supported by a rectangular frame that may bemounted in the top of a show case, or it may be supported either from awall or the ceiling of the store or show room. In either case the totalweight of the device is substantially reduced and the manipulationthereof is greatly simplified and made more facile.

The present invention contemplates an inclined guide with suitable latchmeans to hold the rack normally in its rearmost position, means readilyoperable for releasing the latch so that the rack may glide forwardly todisplay position `by force of gravity, and efficient means to stop theforward motion of the rack without appreciable noise or shock when therack reaches its foremost position.

The display rack may be rotated only when it is in its foremostposition, and cam means is provided for bringing the rack to rest in apredetermined position when it is rotated.

The structure by which the above and other advantages of the presentinvention are attained will be described in the following description,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of some preferredillustrative embodiments thereof, in which:

Figure l is a perspective View of a display rack embodying theinvention; v Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the racktaken along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, the full lines showing the rack inthe forward position and the dotted lines in the normal rearmostposition;

Fig. 3 is a top elevational View of the rack, showing the rack in theforward position;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational View, looking from the left `ICC of Fig. 3,showing the rack rotated through in dotted lines;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the cam which stops the rotarymotion of the rack;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a modified brake meansfor stopping or assisting in the stopping of the forward movement of therack;

Fig. 8 is a modified embodiment of the rack showing different means forcontrolling the forward and rearward movement of the rack; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of another modifed embodimentshowing still different means for controlling the forward and rearwardmovement of the rack.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates a rectangular framecomprising longitudinal channel irons 3 and 4, and transverse endmembers 5 and 6. The longitudinal channel irons are positioned on theirsides with their open ends facing each other for a purpose hereinafterdescribed.

The frame may be supported by means of end brackets 7 secured to asuitable wall surface, or by rods or chains 8 depending from theceiling, or by a combination of both. If the rack is to be mounted in adisplay case it may be supported by the top of the case in any suitablemanner. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the front end 5 ofthe frame is positioned slightly lower than the rear end 6 so that thelongitudinal channel irons are inclined downwardly towards the frontend.

The garment carrier or rack comprises a pair of spaced parallel bars 9adapted to support a plurality of individual garment hangers (not shown)upon which the garments to be displayed are hung. The ends of theparallel bars as tied together by curved metal strips 10 which abut thegarments hung at the ends of the bars to conne them within the limits ofthe bars. Intermediate their ends the parallel bars are supported by aplurality of arms 11, the inner portions 'of which are rigidly securedto a collar 12 rigidly mounted on the lower end of a shaft 13 and heldby a pin 12. Arms 11 may be braced by means of reinforcing bars 11'.

A plate 14 apertured at a central hub portion, as indicated at 15, toreceive the top end of shaft 13, is supported by two cross members 16and 17. Rollers 18 are rotatably mounted on each end of each of crossmembers 16 and 17. The rollers ride along the inner surfaces of thelongitudinal channel irons 3 and 4 which serve as tracks. A pair ofwedge shaped strips 3 and 4 mounted on the inner surface of channelirons 3 and 4 adjacent their front ends provides a surface inclinedupwardly slightly at the front of the frame to arrest the forwardmovement of the garment carrier as it approaches its foremost position.A cam 19 supported on plate 14 is also apertured, as indicated at 19',to receive the top end of shaft 13. Shaft 13 is projected through theapertures in plate 14 and the cam, and a pin 20 is passed thnough atransverse aperture 20' in shaft 13 above the cam. Both ends of pin 20extend on opposite sides of the shaft, and rollers 21 are mounted oneachk end of the pin so that the weight of the garment carrier holdsshaft 13 down with rollers 21 engaging the surface of cam 19.

As shown in Fig. 6, the surface of cam 19 has two radial grooves 22aligned with each other and defining the lowermost level or trough ofthe cam surface. When the garment carrier is rotated to display garmentssimultaneously on both parallel bars (which is the normal displayposition) it is not necessary to hold the carrier in any particularposition because the weight of the garment carrier will cause rollers 21to come to rest in grooves 22. These grooves form a stable rest positionfor the rollers because they are lower than any other zwsaels,

portion of 'thecam surface. The position of grooves 22 inv the surfaceof' the` carrr isl fixed" so'Y thatrv the carrier' Another pair' of'grooves' 23 isA provided in-` al higher.

plane of the cam at right angles to grooves 22. Grooves Z3' servetoprovide Aa temporary rest for rollers :2]: if it is.

desired to hold the parallel bars at right angles to their normaldisplaylposition'. If` excessive force is applied to the garment carrierto'spin'it around; groovesZS'serve as means'to help slowthe'rotation ofthe carrier so that it willI come tov rest` quicker than if grooves, 22were the only gro-oves'provid'edin` the carnsurface.

In`y order to prevent rotation' of" the garment carrier. except when-itIis'- at the forward` end ofY frame 2; a rod' 24, shorter than thelengthof'farne'Z; is disposedcentrallyl of 'the' frame and i extendsparalleli'- to longitudinal channel members-Sandi4.- Rod'124 issupportedatl its ends byfcrossemembers'ZS*and26 whichL are in.turn'supported by the' longitudii'ra'll channel' members. Cross member 25;and hence 4'the' end of "rod24supported' thereby, is spaced rearwardlyof'frontendfmember 5 a distance slightly-.greater'th'anthedi'stancebetweerr member 5 and,

lar in cross section, itmaybe circular'or of'any otherA desired shape.

Alatchmember 28fnormall'y holdsthe-garrnent carrier in itsrearmostposition.A Any suitable-latch mechanism may be used, and suchmechanism maygbe'rnanually or electrically operated. In' Fig. 1;there-is shown' aconventional electrically operated' solenoid* whichnormally holds the core, as shownfnffthe form'ofabolt 29, projectingdownwardly. A. latch 3f is mounted on cross member'17. The latch isprovidedwithan aperture 31 which normally engages bolty 29Y tov hold thegarment carrier in.its. rearmost position. The-free end oflatch 30` isyprovidedY with a downwardly-4 inclined lip'v 32 which engages the boltwhen:then-garment'carrier-isfmoved to its rearmost position andforcesthefboltupwardly'until thebolt registers:vertically:withapertu-relinto which* it then dropsv by gravity. When' the' garmentcarrier is inits1rearmosti-position andis tobe moved forwardly,

a .suitable .push button- (notishownyisfpressed to `close therelectricalcircuit and, thus energizel the` solenoid to raise the, bolt,`.and .gravity causes:the= garment 'carrie'rf to glide forwardly becauseof?theainclinationfof"channel' ironsv` 3-and 4.

In the preferredgembodimentmf tl'le=inventi'on-fsuitable4cushioningmeansfis providedto arrest the'forwardmove ment of Vthegarmentcarrier'as itfapproachesfits'foremost position. rality of springfpressed bumpers or bumpers havinghydraulic cylinders to absorbtheashock, butflprefer to use member 16; Thezmagnetsfare;arrangedwiththeir like'v poles facing eachsothersoithattas magnet 34approaches magnet 33: the repellantfforce tendingrto pusli'themagnetsapartarrests thelforwarddmotionf of plate 14x.L The weight of-the garment carrier'supported'onrplate'14v2is greatv enoughtocause"gravity to'overcornethev repellant.

magnetic force; but" thev magnetic" force will'cushion the stopping ofthe forward moti'0n. It'will, ofcoursegbe.

understood 'that'the magnets used to accomplish'.ths.will. vary vin`size, dependent on theaweighbofthe; garment.

, carrier.

. 4. carrier and the slope of the frame in which the garmentcarrier'rides: When the garment'carrier is pushed"rear wardly, themagnetic force will add its power to the force starting the garmentcarrier in its movement towards its rearmost position.

In Fig. 7 a different means is shown for cushioning the stopping of theforwardmovement of the garment In this embodimenta metalplate 35 issecured I to channel iron 3 adjacent its front end and has a bilresilient flange-.36:1 bent: inwardlyv to engagey tllesiiatv surefaceiof rollen 18. llangeirnaybered towards channel iron 3 to bring theforward motion of the garment carrier to. a complete. stop,A or. maymerely arrest its forward'movement to cusliion the shock of stopping. lfdesired, a duplicateiof'plate 35 `rnayhesecured also to channel iron 4.

In Fig. 8 a modified embodiment of the invention is shownin which .theframe 37 is pivotally supported on trunnions asindicated 211538, bymeans of' a pair of arms 39,v one on each' side of the frame, secured'toa suitable wallsurface. Apair of stop members 39 is secured to frame 37and each member 39" projects beyond the frame far enough to engage arm39.. to'limit the tilting motion of' the frame.

dotted lines-in its rearmost position. In this position-the center ofgravity ofthe garmentcarrier is to the rear of the pivotLS, and thefront endf of the frame is tilted upwardlyv to an extent' sufficientto.. keep the garment hanger from rolling forwardly because of its ownweight. When the, garment hanger. is pulled' forwardly past'the pivot'38' the center-of gravity is shifted forwardly of the pivot so thatthefrontend ofthe frame istilted down wardly, and the garment hanger will'roll forwardly as in the other embodiments. Thegarment carrier can bemadeto' roll"forwardlyby merely pulling. down. on the forward end oftheframe. It is returned' to the rearmost positioneither by being pushedthere or by elevating the forward endofthe framev and permitting it'toroll'baek.l

In Fig. 9 another modication ofthe invention is shown'. The-frame dti'ispivotallyv supported' by aV paix` of arms 41, one on'each side oftheframe, projecting for wardly' from ai base'42'secured"to a wallsurface.Base 42`is" provided' with a' socket-like recess 43. into which` oneleg'44'ofa rocker arm 5"1 tits; The other leg 45 of the rocker arm ispivotally -securedv to' one end of a lever 46rby apin; asin'dicated at47. Leverv 46 is loosely secured tov frame' dtl'by means ofa' pluralityof straps or loops 48, and is provided with a handle 49' by which it maybe manipulated.' When thelever is pulledfforwardly the rocker-arm,`which is pivoted'to the frame, as indl cated'iat 50', is'rotatedslightlyVaboutits'pivotto raisethc rear"end-oftl'ieframe-I so4 that the garment'carrier will glidewforwardlyo. its?foremost'position.. Lever fi6`ispushed* rearwardlyF to raise` the' frontl end of frame 401 whenlthegarmentcarrieris 'to be' movedto" its rearmost 1. Av .display rack-;comprising airame having fa';pair:of

longitudinal frame# members. inclined. downwardly: toe

wards the front of said3frame,.a:pair oficrossfmernbers' havingrollers`riding onf said.- longitudinal.. frame. members, a plate secured tosaid. cross-members.' andlrnovvabiei therewith,vsaidiplate;supporting-;a depending shaft The garmentcarrier is shown inYto which a garment carrier is rigidly secured, latching means normallyretaining said plate in its rearmost position, and wedge shaped membersmounted on said longitudinal frame members to engage said rollersadjacent the front end of said frame, said wedge shaped members havingtheir thicker ends closest to the front end of said frame to arrest theforward movement of said plate as it approaches the front end of saidframe after said latching means is released.

2. A display rack comprising a rectangular frame having two longitudinalmembers inclined downwardly in its forward direction, a pair of crossmembers supporting a plate within said frame, said cross members beingprovided at their ends with rollers engaging said longitudinal members,interengaging latching means on one of said cross members and said frameto hold said plate in its rearmost position, a shaft having its upperend projecting through said plate, a pin projecting transversely throughsaid shaft and having its ends engaging said plate to rotatably supportsaid shaft, means to disengage said latching means, whereby said platewill move forwardly by gravity, and magnetic cushioning' means stoppingthe forward movement of said plate after said latching means has beendisengaged.

3. A display rack comprising a rectangular frame, a rod of less lengththan said frame connected to said frame, a plate slidably mounted onsaid frame and adapted to be moved longitudinally thereof, a shaftrotatably supported by said plate, the top of said shaft being recessedto engage said rod to prevent rotation of said shaft until said plate ismoved far enough to clear said shaft of said rod, and a garment carrierrigidly secured to said shaft.

4. A display rack comprising a rectangular frame having a front end anda rear end, a rod shorter than said frame extending longitudinallythereof from the rear end of said frame, a plate mounted forlongitudinal movement on said frame, a cam positioned above said plate,a shaft projecting through openings in said plate and cam, a pinprojecting transversely through said shaft and engaging said cam torotatably support said shaft, the top of said shaft being recessed toengage said rod to prevent rotation of said shaft except when said plateis near the front end of said frame, and a garment carrier rigidlysecured to said shaft.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 393,247Lambert Nov. 20, 1888 495,185 Hubley Apr. 11, 1893 636,510 Evered Nov.7, 1899 673,746 Happe et al May 7, 1901 701,692 Evered et al. June 3,1902 1,157,651 Vanderveld Oct. 19, 1915 1,274,284 Kraviecz July 30, 19181,332,081 Talley et al. Feb. 24, 1920 1,334,817 Talley et al Mar. 23,1920 1,370,275 Brager Mar. 1, 1921 1,546,276 Woltz July 14, 19251,572,845 Efford et al Feb. 9, 1926 1,580,627 Peterson Apr. 13, 19261,752,595 Hormes Apr. 1, 1930 1,884,637 Feehan Oct. 25, 1932 2,204,502Krauss .Tune 11, 1940 2,458,970 Wilson Ian. 11, 1949 2,498,518 Zingmanet al. Feb. 21, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 697,215 France Oct. 27, 1930

